As the Easter holidays approach and the promise of warmer, sunnier days fills the air, parents and caregivers across the UK are looking for creative and engaging ways to keep little ones entertained, learning, and thriving. At Edx Education, we are passionate advocates for play-based learning, and sensory play is a fantastic way to help children develop essential skills while having endless fun.
From the calming sounds of splashing water to the tactile delight of feeling sand sift through fingers, sensory play offers children the opportunity to explore the world around them in a meaningful, hands-on way. With our Water Trays and accessories, you can easily transform ordinary playtime into magical, sensory-rich learning experiences that nurture your child’s development.
Why Sensory Play Matters
Sensory play isn’t just about having fun—it’s about learning through experience. When children engage in sensory play, they use their senses of touch, sight, sound, and even smell to explore new textures, shapes, and sounds. This type of play offers numerous developmental benefits:
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Fine Motor Skills: Pouring, scooping, grasping, and squeezing all help develop fine motor control essential for writing and other tasks.
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Cognitive Growth: Sensory play supports problem-solving, cause-and-effect understanding, and spatial awareness.
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Social Skills: Collaborative sensory play encourages sharing, turn-taking, and communication.
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Emotional Regulation: Activities like water play can have a calming, therapeutic effect, perfect for helping children unwind and self-regulate.
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Language Development: As children describe their play, they expand their vocabulary and improve communication skills.
Sensory Play Ideas for the Easter Holidays
The Easter break is a wonderful opportunity to encourage imaginative, sensory-rich play at home. Whether you’re setting up in the garden or indoors on a rainy day, Edx Education’s Water Trays and accessories make it easy to create engaging experiences.
Here are some fun sensory play ideas to try:
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Easter Egg Rescue: Fill a Water Tray with water and add plastic Easter eggs. Encourage your child to "rescue" them using tweezers or scoops. This activity enhances fine motor skills while providing a fun challenge.
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Rainbow Pebbles® Exploration: Our Rainbow Pebbles® are perfect for water play. Place them in the tray and let children explore their vibrant colours and different shapes. Ask them to sort by size, colour, or create beautiful pebble mosaics on the water’s surface.
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Foamy Fun: Add a bit of child-friendly bubble solution to the water for a foamy, sensory experience. Children can scoop, pour, and splash, learning about volume, texture, and movement in the process.
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Sand and Water Play: Combine our Water Trays with sand to create a multi-textured sensory experience. Encourage children to dig, pour, and build—promoting creativity and imaginative storytelling.
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Coloured Water Experiment: Add a few drops of food colouring to the water and watch your child’s amazement as the colours swirl and mix. This is a great way to introduce concepts of colour theory and science in a playful setting.
Why It’s Perfect for the Easter Holidays
During the Easter holidays, families often find themselves juggling work and childcare. Sensory play offers a fantastic way to keep children entertained and learning independently or collaboratively. Whether indoors or outdoors, our Water Trays are versatile tools that can be adapted to suit children of all ages and interests.
The Play, Learn & Create podcast by Edx Education is also a valuable resource for parents and caregivers looking to enhance their children’s learning through play. From episodes on sensory play ideas to expert advice on child development, we’ve got you covered.
Making Play a Daily Habit
At Edx Education, we believe that learning through play is the most natural and effective way for children to develop essential skills. As you prepare for the Easter holidays, why not make sensory play a daily habit? Our Water Trays and accessories offer endless opportunities for creative, joyful exploration that supports your child’s development in meaningful ways.
Happy playing!
For more play ideas and downloadable resources, visit our website or tune in to the Play, Learn & Create with Edx Education podcast.
By Heather Welch, Author of Happy Children Play and General Manager of Edx Education UK